The late President Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur, was a champion of causes related to interfaith harmony and religious tolerance. His wife, former First Lady Sinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid, has been keeping his legacy alive in many ways, including by holding the interfaith meals during Ramadan with members of various religious communities that she first held when she was living in the National Palace.
This year, Sinta was invited to hold a buka puasa event at the Church of St. James of Zebedee in Semarang yesterday. However, like all things related to religious tolerance lately, the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) had a serious problem with this.
“We reject the event because we object if Ibu Sinta prays together with others in a church,” FPI leader Zaenal Petir said on Thursday as quoted by Vivanews.
With FPI threatening to take action against the event, Catholic leaders were forced to negotiate with members of the hardline group at a Semarang police station. Eventually they reached a compromise in which the opening of the event could take place at the church, but the former first lady would only be allowed to give a short speech there and then the actual break fasting event would have to take place at a local civic center.
The event at the church began at 5pm, with dozens of members of FPI and other similar groups standing outside to enforce the terms of the compromise. Standing guard against them on the other side were members of a local chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama, the Islamic organization once presided over by Gus Dur.
The former first lady at least did not allow FPI’s hateful presence to overshadow the uplifting message of religious tolerance she delivered at the event.
“Muslims must be able to co-exist with other groups and protect minorities. Because the Prophet was sent [to us] to be a blessing for all existence,” Sinta said at the closing of her remarks.
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